Asbestos-cement board, siding and shingle



. l. READ EruAL ASBESTOS-CEMENT BOARD,v SIDING SHINGLE Filed Aug. 22, 1952 A3 Sheelts-Sheet 1 .im fi:

TTORNEYJ Jan. 7,!-1958 c, l. READ Erm. 2,813,824

AsBEsTos-CEMENT BOARD. sInING AND surnam Filed Aug. 22, 1952 3 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Jan. 7, 1958 c. l. READ 'ETAL 2,818,824 AsBEsTos-cmm BOARD, SIDI'NG AND SHINGLE Filed Aug. 22,1952 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR:

BY Z. 2 I :'V 'ld ATTORNEK;N

United States vASBESTOS-ClElVlElslT BOARD, SIDING AND .SHlNGLE Clinton 'I. Read, Trumbull, and Francis H. Reilly, Stratford, Conn., assignors to Tilo Roofing Company, inc., Stratford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application August 22, 1952, Serial N o. 305,754

7 Claims. (Cl. 10S-) ing or 'siding `or shingle that has the: great advantage of showing' itscontrasting colors irrespective of whether it is viewed from directly in front, i. e., 90 to its front surface, orat an angleto -that surface, say or other angle to the front surface.

This advantage alone is very important as .it is .highly desirable to have a ireproof andwaterproof cementitious type of siding or shingle represent a wooden typeV of siding or shingle no matter from what angle lthe siding or shingle is viewed.

For instance, when an observer approaches and moves past a building that is wooden shingle clad, he appreciates from any angle that the building is shingle clad, and that the appearance of the siding is pleasing. Heretofore, when an observer approached and moved past a building that was clad with the `contrasting color type of cementitious covering or siding or shingle previously made, he could only appreciate the varied color effect when he was substantially directly in front of the building, i. e., when standing at approximately 90 to the full front surface of the building or shingle.

Gaining the advantages of having -the interior or ex- -terior walls of a house-or building covered with iircproof and waterproof material covering and still having a pleasing contrasting color when viewed from any angle, like the regular type of woodenshingle, is a desire of long standing in the siding Land rooting industry.

The improved product of the invention herein andthe improved process for producing that-product meets this desire.

This invention further pertains 'to an improved-inside wall coveringfor to an outside siding, or to a vshingle of the asbestos-cementitious type that is` produced to have its contrasting colors embedded in its bodystructure and not added to its surface fas acoating and, therefore, subject to .being washed off, or` diluted over a. period of time.

It is to be particularly noted -that if ithe appearance of the interior walls or the outer siding of a home or manufacturing buildingor fthe like, is not striking or attractive when viewed from any angle, that the observers A*comments and .desires are negative, even though fireproof and waterproof advantages have been gained.

It is, therefore, one of the main ,features of this invention to provide an improved fireproof land waterproof .and attractive and striking wall, siding and roofcovering when .viewed from. any angle..

Another main feature of this invention 1s to provide i' atent i formed by pigments embedded into .the surface` l,and

sidings or shingles which have color contrasts observable from any angle, and which have the colordesign nonmatching'with the graining or embossing design.

Another feature of this invention is to'provide a nal product having embossed ridges and grooves or channels and toA have the contrasting color design embedded in the product and generally extending along the same direction as the ridges and grooves but having the ridges of varied -colors for portions of their lengths so that when viewed from the side and without the grooves being viewable, there will still be the observed color contrast along the ridges.

A further main feature of this invention is to provide anew and improved waterproof and iireproof wall covering usable inthe building industry that has a color contrast noticeable at all times and from all positions, and tohave any added color or colors fully embedded in the wall covering so that there will not be any wasting away, or dilution, or dissolving of the coloring pigment. With this, improved product no binder is required to carry the color pigments. Such a colored wall Covering may be ,obtained with or without being embossed.

`lt is a further preferred feature of this invention to provide an asbestos-cementitious wall covering, or siding, or shingle that is embossed and colored .in different manners but always giving the color contrast and being usable for many purposes in the building industry.

Anotherv feature of this improved invention is Ito provide a wallcovering product that has many diierentrelative positions and sizes of coloring bands to many positions and varying widths of embossedridges and channels in the covering. Such an. improved product will have at least a two-tone color contrast, and it may be multi-colored asvdesired.

It is also another main feature of this invention to provide an `improved process for producing'the -improvedand novel striking and attractive fireproof Vand waterproof building covering, as well as providing a novel machine or apparatus for producing this improved wall covering.

Ithasbeen proposed to make wall/coverings, as for exampleinteriorlwall board,.sidings, shingles, and the-like, from asbestos fibers and cement, with a graining vgrid relief rdesign in imitation of weather-worn wood shingles and. with a graining grid color print design to produce'at least a two-tone color effect, and to thus emphasize the grainingzappearance. kIn -this preferred wall and siding cover there is provided alternate .ridges and grooves with gentle` undulations of varying widths, running generally linearly in somewhat parallel direction, and the covering is colored to present lighter shades or Zones at portions or positions along the lands or crests or ridges of the embossed grain design and to have the lighter and darker shades extend into and through the valleys. `The areas or zones of darker shades of color also extend along portions of the lands and in the valleys. The proper size lformation and area or zones of the widths vary, and the melding of the colors is helpful and advantageous in creating the pleasing and attractive appearance.

Thismixed coloring design located and arranged as described, will emphasize the lined graining effect'and will be evident when viewed fromdirectlyin front, or at any angle to the face of the covering. However, when viewed from the side, the valleys will usually be concealed butthe mixed coloring extending oversandA along vportions of the ridges or crests will still give effectively the proper contrasting coloring eifect herein developed.

Another feature or object of the present invention is ,to provide a new and improved outer wallcovering for homes and buildings such as a siding, or shingle, or the like, of bro-cementitious material having a color design blended Awith the ground color of the covering.

In. accordance with certain features of this present invention, the improved sheet of fibro-cementitious material preferably will have a series of embossed alternate gently undulating grooves and ridges of varying widths extending in grid fashion to form a graining design in relief. The groove-grained surface of the sheet also has printed thereon in color a series of wavy lines or bands or zones or areas of varying width extending in grid fashion generally in the same direction of the grooves and ridges and of a shade different from that of the ground color of the sheet. The printed grain color bands o r lines or areas are not in registry with the grooves or ridges of the relief graining figuration and do not correspond therewith in size and shape, so that a limited random relationship between these color lines and the grooves and ridges is created, causing the color lines to extend some times in and along the grooves, some times on the `crests of the ridges and some times obliquely from the valleys to and over the crests of the ridges. The resulting product is unique in that a pleasing varying ,color effect is produced observable from any angle.

While the foregoing relationship of comments disclose that the relationship of color graining zones or bands are variable in widths and in positions in relation to the embossed ridges and valleys which are also of vary- Aing widths and positions, the improved invention also Yprovides two other relationships between the color zones and the embossed ridges and valleys. One relationship 1s where each color graining band varies in its width throughout its length while the widths of the ridges and 4valleys or grooves each remain of substantial uniform width throughout its length. Also in this relation one ridge or. groove may be of a different width than its adjacent ridge or groove. The other relationship is that ofihaving each of the color graining zones of substantially uniform width throughout its length while the ernbossed ridges and valleys vary considerably in their widths throughout their lengths. It is also to be noted that each color zone or band may be of a different width than another color band when desired. In any of these relationships there is always the contrast of colors irrespecvtive of what angle the covering or siding or shingle is viewed from. As another feature of the preferred present invention, the printed color graining lines or bands are applied in such a way that the pigment dening the lines or bands is not in the form of a superficial coating, but is inseparably embedded into the outer layer of the sheet and blended with the ground color of the sheet. 'I'he coloring pigments of this invention are not carried in a separate coating added to or applied to the surface of the covering, as heretofore has been the case, but are embedded in the surface of the covering during the process of producing the covering.

While the preferred form of invention produces a board, siding, or shingle that has the color contrast from any angle, 4and provides for the impregnation of the `color in the web during its manufacture, it will also be appreciated that a final board, siding, or shingle will have a color contrast of the saine scope even though the color pigment may be applied at any time during the manufacture of the product, and even after the web has been embossed. Also, the color contrasting pigments may be gained by employing colored granules separately or in conjunction with the type of the described printing application of the pigments.

Various other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are apparent from the following particular description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an embossed covering having varying widths of ridges and valleys, and substantially continuous lines of color grain design, the widths of which vary and are insolite Qf the valleys and on top of some of the ridges for some distances;

Fig. 2 represents a front view of a covering partly in color showing diferent widths of color design, zones or bands overlying certain varying widths of ridges and valleys;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the varying positions of the color bands or zones in respect to the ridges and valleys;

Fig. 4 illustrates a front view of a covering partly in color having each ridge and groove of uniform width, and the color bands or zones being of varying widths and extending some times along and on the ridges and some times along and in the valleys;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4 showing the various ridges and grooves or valleys and the positions of the color bands in respect to those ridges and grooves;

Fig. 6 represents a front view of a covering partly uncolored and illustrating the color bands or zones, each .being of uniform width even though the width of one band or zone is diierent from that of the adjacent color zone or band, and shows the ridges and valleys being of varying widths;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the lines 7-7 of Fig. 6, showing the Various positions of the color bands in respect to the ridges and valleys;

Fig. 8 is a diagram in side view illustrating the machine for making the improved grained sheet shown in Figs. 1 to 7;

Fig. 9 is a diagram in top plan view illustrating the step of printing a web with colored graining lines or bands in the process of making the improved product of the present invention and showing the graining colors extending across the web;

Fig. 10 is a diagram in top plan view illustrating the step of printing a web with color graining lines or bands running lengthwise of the web instead of across it;

Fig. 11 is a diagram in side view and on an enlarged scale of the part of the operation shown in Fig. 8, in

which the web is printed with the grain design and at the same time is subjected to vacuum, to effect embedment of the printing lineating pigment into the body of the web, in the process of making the improved product of the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a diagram, enlarged, in end view showing the web carrying blanket and the thin web supported thereon, as they pass in superposition over one of the rolls in a suction box in the process of making the improved product of the present invention, the thickness of the blanket and the web being shown exaggerated in comparison with the roll;

Fig. 13 shows diagrammatically and in perspective an accumulator roll by which successive sections of a thin printed web are collected and formed into a composite sheet of the required thickness, in the process of making the improved productV of the present invention; and

Fig. 14 is a side View on enlarged scale of the sheet grained in relief and in two-tone color and showing the embedment of the pigment firmly and inseparably into the outer layer of said sheet, to form the improved product of the present invention.

Referring to Figs. l, 2, 4, 6 and 14 of the drawings, the improved product of the present invention comprises a sheet 10 of fibre-cementitious material, as for example, asbestos fibers and cement, cut to produce a wall covering for inside a house, or an outer building wall covering in the form of a board, siding, or shingle, or the like. The sheet 10 usually has a series of linear grooves 11 of varying widths and depths separated by linear ridges or crests or lands 12 running generally in the same direction but irregularly to define a graining grid relief design in imitation of a Weathered wood shingle; The sheet 10 `pirelverablyhas a ground color, which maybe light brown yas 18,824

or of any other suitable color to give the impression of "stained wood. .K y l To enhance-the attractiveness ofthe 'Sheet designl V'31161120 "emphasize still further 'thegrainingelect presented, the vsheet -has a series of color lines or bands 13V of varying widths and VSiZesand of one or 'more colors or shades different .from'thatof the'ground color'of thesheet. These .lines orbands 13 or zoneslof colorextend generally irregularly inthe directionfofthel embossed grooves '11 and ridges 12-'Figs- 1 and Z-and are separated by irregular lines or` bands 14 ofground color, thereby resulting in a two-tone vcolorgrain grid design. The -color 'lines' 13 are preferably of the same basic color and usually continuous but may -be darker in shade, so that the twotone effect presented Vwill result in alternate light and` Adarkwlines or `zones' or areas -over the length of the covering or siding. VViv/here it isKY desired that the sheet have a stained wood appearance, the lines or bands 13 `might V@have abrown= color darker in-shade than the ground color -of the Asheet as--it appears in the bands 14v or-the' .bands 13 Amay be .ofva-riouscolors. With this noncoincidental vor non-matching lrandom relationship between the color graining design and the relief graining adesign, the varyingtone effect willbe observed at 'any angle, even though the angleofobservation is suchthat the ridges 12 hide the grooves 11l and the observation is across the tops of the ridges.

While the above-description discloses afpreferable'color contrastbetween twotcolors, it isto `be understood that the Acolor lines or` bands or zones may -be'of different colors along the same zone, or band, or one zone'may fbe of a single color and the adjacent band be'of another color, lor combination lof colors. Any yarrangements of colors may be made that would carry out the ldesired attractiveness 'of the product wherein the covering, siding, lor shingle creates a color contrast irrespective of what angle thefcovering, or siding, or shingle may be viewed from.

In producing this type of covering, or siding,or shingle, .itis vpreferable Ythat thecoloring grain zones or bands 13 shall have two features, i. e., be substantially continuous, and in 'most instances, be wavy as to widths of each band, Yas particularly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Also in this .preferred covering, it is desired that the ridges and grooves .shall be wavy -in their width throughout their lengths, also-as shown in Figs. l and 2.

v:Modifications of the preferred form of coloring-and :embossingrare'illustrated in Figs. /4an'd 6. In Fig. 4 the variation is produced by having each yridge and each Vfgroovefof Iuniform width for substantially its full length. v'The width'of any ridge or 'groove may be different than the Twidth of anyof the other ridges or grooves. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate these uniform widths of ridges and -zgrooves These vfigures also represent the varying widths 'of ythe color bands 'or zones.

In Fig. 6 the modification is different in that the colored bands or zones are of substantially uniform width throughout their lengths. Likewise in this showing one color bandorzone may be of a different ywidth than an adjacent color band or zone. In this Fig. 6 the ridges and fgrooves are of varying widths throughout their lengths.

`In the sectional view in Figs. 5 and 7, the uniform widths of the ridges and grooves are particularly noted in Fi'g.l 5. This ligure also shows that the coloring zones -are sometimes on'top of the ridges and sometimes in the valleys, and sometimes extending through the valleys to the next adjacent ridge. Fig. 7 shows the variations in the'riclges and valleys, but maintains an equal width of color zones.

As another feature of the present invention, the pig- 'ment forming the 'graining lines or bands 13 is preferably deeply embedded into the outer layer of the sheet and .blended with the ground coloring of the sheet, as shown in f:Eig.'.l'4, instead -of beinglayed on the sheet as a supercial-ueoating. :With thepigment'for the graining.. lines ythe two or `more colors of thesheet.

yunhydrated Portland cement and an inert filler. Alamina or web is formed'on the periphery of each -cylingraduate continuously in the transition from one color line or` band Vor strip 13 to the adjoining ground line or bandor strip 14, thereby softening the contrast between The penetration ofthe pigments in the color -lines or bands13 into the body of the sheet renders the color lines or bands highly resistant to erasure or discoloration or dilution even under the most severeweathering conditions that may be encountered. In the instance where the coloring is applied after the embossing of the sheet, it has been found that this may readily be accomplished by producing the coloring results the same as the coloring is done on walnut shells.

The preferred process and apparatus for making the new and improved product of the present invention will now'be described referring to Figs. 8 to 14.

For carrying out the process of producing this improved product in its preferred form and in providing 'alnovel machine or apparatus for so doing, there is pro- -vided-a pervious or porous conveyor blanket 15 on ywhichthethinweb adaptable for color graining is built in successive layers. This blanket 15, in the form of an endless conveyor belt, passes in succession over a plurality of webV formation cylinders 16 (three being shown), each partly immersed in a vat 17 usually containing a ground pigmented slurry or liquid mixture of fibers and cementitious materials. More especially, this slurry is aselected liquid pigmented mixture of asbestos fibers, A thin der 16 and carried to the blanket 15 or to a lamina 'already thereon for adherence thereto. Each cylinder 16 on the bottom side of the conveyor blanket 15 cooperates with 'a roll-18 on the upper side of the blanket to thereby apply laminas tothe underside of the blanket 15 or to an adher-ing lamina thereon by transfer action of said cylinder from the Vcorresponding slurry bath. As a result, a thin wet delicate composite web 20 is built up on the pervious blanket 15. Thus,- this web consists of laminations held together in face to face contact. This web 20 is carried over the roll 18 above the last vat 17 and on the upper flight or run of the blanket 15 into the eld of action of a printing device 21, where the color graining figuration is applied.

The color printing device 21 is shown as preferably comprising a transfer roll 22 partially immersed in a reservoir 23 containing the ink or pigment, and a printing roll 24 in contact with the transfer roll during at least certain periods or cycles of operation. This printing roll bears the color pattern in relief. The printing roll 24, whichv may be of wood or metal, has an intaglio line-ated design for holding pigment for creating and printing a series of grain lines or bands, or strips 13 on the surface of the web-see Fig. 9. In the form shown, the relief or intaglio bands on the printing roll 24 extend generally parallel to the axis of the roll or along its length to impress the color lines or bands 13 of varying width across the web 20 in a direction transverse to its direction of travel. These color grain lines 13 are so positioned that when the final covering or siding or shingle is cut, these lines or bands extend in the same general direction as that of the ridges and grooves of the relief graining design subsequently applied or embossed therein.

While Fig. 8 shows the printing device 21 composed of the transfer roller 22 and the printing roll 24, it will be understood the ordinary fountain type of color application to the roller 24 may be employed. As is known, the fountain type consists of two rollers, one of which will be in touch with the printing roller 24 and the other roller spaced a denite distance from the iirst fountain roller and the coloring solution is applied between the two rollers so that only a definite amount of color carried by the roller engagement with the printing rolier 24 passes between the two fountain rollers.

If the shingle or siding is to be cut-'from the board sheet, so that the longer axis of the shingle or siding is Vin series and then is carried to an accumulator roll 28,

where the web 20 is wound a number of times, until a somewhat compressed rolled sheet having the desired thickness is formed. As will bevexplained hereinafter, it is only necessary to apply color to the rst layer which is wound on the roll 28, the following layers merely form- Ving a backing for the facing layer.

Preferably the color graining vdesign is imprinted through the operation of the printing device 21 upon the web 20 in the vicinity ofthe suction or vacuum boxes 26 and 27. More specifically, this printing device 21 is located just before the web 20 reaches the first suction box 26, as shown in Fig. 8 and 11, or directly over one of the suction boxes 26 and 27. With this arrangement these suction boxes 26 and 27 serve the purposes of: (l) removing some of the waterfrom the web 20, so as to leave the web dry enough to roll up on the accumulator roll 28 into a series of superposed webs to form a composite sheet; and (2) drawing the pigment applied by the printing device 21 into the pores of the web, so that it becomes an integral and inseparable part thereof, capillary action also assists in embedding the color in the web 20; and (3) holding the web from being carried away from the blanket and around the printing roll 24.

To `carry the conveyor blanket 15 across the tops of the suction boxes 26 and Z7 with minimum friction on the blanket and to insure desired color pigment absorption into the web, each of the suction boxes, as shown in Figs, 8, 11 and 12, has a series of small freely rotatable spaced rolls 32 over which the web 20 and the supporting blanket are bulged or formed into waves, as shown in Figs. 11 and l2. The section of the wet web 20 passing over each roll 32 is somewhat bulged convexly, so that e the outer printed layer of said web is under some tension, and the pores thereof are temporarily increased in size, causing thereby ya little more penetration of the pigment into this outer web layer by the action of the vacuum.

The sections of the web between rolls 32 sag concavely, causing the outer printed layer of the web to be compressed and the pigment therein to be squeezed somewhat and be mixed with the cementitious material. The alternate tensioning and compressing of the outer layer sections of the web Ztlcaused by the described undulating t movement of the web results in the embedment of the pigment. The color pigments will 'also reach into the web 2t) by reason of capillary action, even when there is no vacuum functioning.

With the arrangement `described in which the printing is applied to the thin wet web 20 before or ahead of the accumulator and preferably in the presence or vicinity of a vacuum, no cement carrier or other bonding agent is necessary to be incorporated with the pigment.

The coloring matter may be a pigment of any type, such as the nely ground mineral oxide pigments, inorganic or organic pigments, phthalocyanine pulp pigments, dyes, lakes or other coloring matter, held in aqueous suspension or solution with or without use of dispersing agents. Whenever desired the coloring pigment may be applied in the dry state. Also, the tine colored particles may be used when in colloidal condition with a water mix and be drawn into the web Ztl. With the inclusion of bers in the web 20 the color pigments are caught among the fibers and are not pulled throughthe web in the same manner that water is pulled through the web by coming within the effectiveness of the vacuum.

When applying the color pigment by using the printing device 21 within the effectiveness of the vacuum, it has been possible. when desired, to have the inking roll create pressure, or be under pressure, against the web 20 thus transferring practically all of the color on the face of the roll 24 to the web 20. However, the web 20 will not be picked up by the roll 24, nor will it tend to follow the roll 24 to any great extent as the vacuum pulls the sheet tightly against the blanket 15. With the availability of this pressure it is easier in some instances to employ dry coloring pigment.

When the color pigment is applied to sheet 20 when it is wet, a satisfactory color blending results. When the color pigment is applied when the web 20 is somewhat dry, as after some vacuum has been applied, then the color lines are somewhat sharper. In the event of using a fluted printing roll, it has been noted that often the color pigment is forced to the trailing edge of each flute, thus leaving the edge of the printed surface a little heavier in color, which very often gives a very pleasing blending of color tones.

By satisfactory application of the color pigment by vacuum, capillary action, sponging, brushing, dusting or the like, good effects of stippling, marblizing, splattering, and the like, may be obtained. If other special effects are to be obtained, the color grain may be at angles to the general direction of the embossed grooves and ridges. If desired, the angles may be at Such an adaptability or flexibility may be employed to simulate a clapboard type of siding.

After the thin web 20 has been printed with the graining design on the facing layer which engages the roll 28 and after this printed portion and the following unprinted portions of the web 20 have been partially dried through the action of the suction boxes 26 and 27, the web is wound about the accumulator roll Z8, until a predetermined number of layers, for example four layers, have been superimposed and collected thereon to form a preliminary sheet 33 of the desired thickness.

This roll 28 preferably has a steel surface and is of considerable diameter. A smaller roll 34 is located beneath the accumulator roll 28 and exerts considerable pressure on the laminations being built up on the accumulator roll, thereby reducing the thickness of the laminations as they accumulate, and uniting the laminas together and further penetratively integrating the pigment with the body of the sheet. The conveyor blanket 15 passes over this pressure roll 34 and, after separation from the cementitious web, travels over a series of festooning rolls 35 for drying, and then returns to the rst of the formation cylinders 16.

To facilitate the slitting of the composite sheet 33 on the accumulator roll 28, after the desired thickness of said sheet has been attained, there is provided a suitable slot 36 extending there along on its periphery. When the sheet 33 is to be removed, the operator inserts a cutter bar into the slot 36 and slits the wrapped web along the slot. The slitted sheet 33 then peels off the accumulator roll 28, spreads out open, and advances onto a conveyor 37 in flat condition with the printed surface uppermost and exposed for subsequent operations to be described. Since only'the initial section of each length of web 20 wrapped around the accumulator roll 28, corresponding in extent to the circumference of the accumulator roll, will be exposed when the sheet is removed from the `accumulator roll, it will not be necessary to print the graining design along the full extent of the web length before it reaches the accumulator roll. That is, experience has sh-own that only the rst laminae need to have the coloring applied to it, the other or backing up laminae do not need to have the printing applied to them.

To economize in the use of pigment and to gain the foregoing desire, the printing device. 21 may be rendered zagsrsgsaa 9 inactive'aiter the initial' lengm of 'web necessary to form the first layer of 4a composite or preliminary sheet 33 on roll 28 has been printed with the necessary graining design. Forthat purpose, suitable means may be provided for separating-the printing roll 24 Vand the pigment transfer roll 22 during the intervals when it is desired not to print Ion the web. In thespeciiic and enlarged form shown in Fig. 1l, a cam device 40 at each end of the .shaft-of the printing roll is shown for moving the print- 'ing roll toward -thetransfer roll 22 during the printing periods. -Aiisuitable.spring-or counter cam may be employed tof-retract. the.. printing roll.

After the printed sheet 33 has been removed from the accumulator roll 28 and laid on the conveyor 37, it is preferred to carry the sheet past one or two heating units 41-Fig. 8-for the purpose of removing some of the remaining liquid in the sheet. Each sheet, still in plastic form, then passes into the field of action of an embossing device 42, where the graining grooves 11 and ridges 12 are formed in the sheet.

This preferred embossing device 42 comprises an upper roller 43, having an embossed surface for impressing the relief design 11 and 12 on the color printed surface of the sheet, and a lower roller 44 with a smooth surface for supporting the sheet as it is embossed by the upper roller. This upper roller 43 has its embossing ridges extending either lengthwise along the roller of circumferentially therearound, so as to parallel, generally, the direction of the printing lines or bands, or strips on the printing roll 24. Where the color graining lines or bands 13 and 14 on the sheet 33 extend transverse to the direction of movement of the sheet, the embossing ridges on the embossing roller 43 will extend generally parallel to its axis but will vary in width and will be wavy in configuration. There is no exact correspondence between the location of the graining lines or bands 13 and 14, and the linear regions where the graining grooves 11 and ridges 12 are impressed in the sheet 33 by the embossing roller- 43, so that the ultimate color design and relief design on the nal sheet have the random relationship described in connection with the product shown in Figs. l and 2.

After the embossing operation described, the sheet 33 is cut, if and when desired, and removed from the machine and stacked with other sheets to permit curing of its cement constituent over a period of days. Finally the cured or partially cured sheet or board is retained in its full size for coverings inside or outside the building, or is cut into smaller sizes to form the improved siding, shingle, or other wall covering element 10 shown in Figs. l, 2, 4 and 6.

When it is desired to apply the pigment to the sheet after the sheet has passed under the embossing roll, instead of applying the pigments in the neighborhood of the couch rolls, it will be understood that the coloring may be applied in the same fashion as printing is done on walnut shells. Also, if instead of employing the color pigments as pigments, the same type of color contrast may be obtained by using colored granules and placing and embedding them in the sheet in desired zones and in desired locations.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 8, 11 and 13, the machine and apparatus for forming and producing the improved covering is disclosed, and the foregoing description has described this preferred apparatus and the cooperating functions of the parts thereof as applying to the sheet or board in its formation as it passes through the apparatus to have each part of the machine definitely act upon and produce the final desired product.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that an improved product is produced and has a color design that is non-matching with the graining or embossed design. Also, a preferred process and apparatus for producing this improved product have been set forth in detail.

It will be appreciated that the improved product with the contrasting "colorsi `observable 'from' any angle'rnay be produced in other fways' so longas'theembossed ridges andy grooves doy not coincide with the printed'lines, strips, bands cr zones desired .for the preferred'covering. For instance, the coloringrpigmentsmay be vapplied iti-suitable manner after the embossing rollhas formed the ridges and grooves in the surface of the sheet as noted above.

While the preferred process provides for the application of the printing lines at a point just ahead of the first suction box, it will be understood that the color pigments may be applied, for purpose of good results, at any points after the web passes from the last roll 16 and before the web passes under the embossing roll as may be desired. However, the preferred process provides for the application of the normal pigments to the web at some point prior to the web being built upon the accumulator roll.

It will be further noted that with the preferred improved type of manufacturing machine that the color is embedded in the web by capillarity and mechanical suction.

It will further be noted with the improved process herein, that a final board or siding `covering is of contrasting colors viewable from any position and is obtained by reason of the non-matching color design with the graining design, but that the color lines, zones or bands extend in the same general linear direction but normally over the length of the product a color strip will extend off from one ridge, preferably through an adjacent valley, and up onto a second ridge, thereby leaving some of the base color of the product showing on the first ridge until the color strip or set of lines return through the valley and back onto the first ridge. This type of coloring contrast produces a siding cover that is attractive, and striking while at the same time being waterproof and fireproof and the contrasting colors are appreciated when the observer stands at any angle to the front face of the board siding or shingle.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to a specific embodiment, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited thereto, but is to be construed broadly and restricted solely by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. A Wall covering such as boards, sidings, shingles and the like, comprising a sheet of asbestos bers and cement, said sheet having a series of alternating ridges and Valleys embossed in one face of said sheet, said ridges and Valleys extending continuously from one edge of said sheet to an opposite edge thereof, said sheet also having a series of spaced bands of pigmented material applied to the embossed face thereof, said bands extending continuously from one edge of said sheet to an opposite edge thereof and being so disposed with respect to said ridges and valleys that said bands follow the general direction of said ridges and valleys, but with single bands of pigmented material each lying partially within a given valley, lying partially on the crest of the next adjacent ridge, and lying partially on the slope between said valley and ridge.

2. A wall covering as claimed in claim l in which said bands of pigmented material are of non-uniform width throughout their length.

3. A wall covering as claimed in claim l in which said bands of pigmented material are of wavy contour throughout their length.

4. A wall covering as claimed in claim l in which said bands of pigmented material are of non-uniform width throughout their length and are of wavy contour throughout their length.

5. A wall covering as claimed in claim 1 in which said bands of pigmented material are of non-uniform width throughout their length, and in which said ridges and valleys are of wavy contour throughout their length.

6. A Wall covering as claimed in claim 1 in which said bands of pigmented material are of wavy contour throughout their length, and in which said ridges and valleys are of ywavy contour throughout their length.

7. A wall covering as claimed in claim 1 in which said bands of pigmented material are of non-uniform Width throughout their length and are of wavy contour throughout their length, and in which said ridges and valleys are of wavy contour throughout their length.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Elvidge Oct. 31,1922 Miss Apr. 2, 1935 Devereux Apr. 9, 1935 McQuade Sept. 24, 1935 Ledeboer Dec. 19, 1939 Fischer May `14, 1940 Voigt et al July 7, 1942 De Vault Jan. 12, 1943 Wack July 31, 1945 

